EXCLUSIVE: “He lives his whole life around his work,” Katrina Kaif talks about reuniting with Salman Khan in Tiger Zinda Hai

By Monica Yadav -

December 20, 2017 - 10:19 AM IST

Katrina Kaif is gearing up for the release of Tiger Zinda Hai. Returning with Salman Khan after five years, Katrina is all set for high octane entertainment. Although Katrina Kaif may not have had a good time at the box office with her previous films, the actress is very confident about Tiger Zinda Hai. The film is set to release on December 22, 2017.

EXCLUSIVE: “He lives his whole life around his work,” Katrina Kaif talks about reuniting with Salman Khan in Tiger Zinda Hai

Speaking to Bollywood Hungama in an exclusive interview, Katrina Kaif talked about everything from doing an action-packed role and working with Salman Khan after five years.

Tiger Zinda Hai trailer looks massive with stunning visuals. How was it working on a high octane action film and did you improvise anything?
Every scene, every moment, everything is there in a bound script. You do your rehearsals, you do your discussions. Doing a sequel for me was easier as you've already done the groundwork for the last film. You are not starting from zero.

How was it working with Ali Abbas Zafar after his debut with Mere Brother Ki Dulhan?
Ali has grown a huge amount. I think in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, he was just finding his voice and space. In Tiger Zinda Hai, I've seen a huge growth in the way he tells a story. Ali has now found a unique voice in that space. When I saw the film, I was proud of the work he has done.

I had read that you underwent a lot of training for the high octane sequences. With you being a fitness enthusiast, how exciting was it to learn new ways to train for the film?
It was very exciting. I like doing physical things. I like action, I like working with the team that is best out there, best action team and stunt team who are training me in new things. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed doing it. There were different types of action like mortal combat, weapons training. Each sequence was a different type of training. I had a good time.

I keep seeing you and Salman pulling each other's legs during promotions. Is the working rapport that comfortable since y'all have worked in several movies? Do you remember the first time you were on the set with Salman during Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya?
As an actor, I think Salman has had a phenomenal growth. He is a megastar and great at work. There is a depth which came in his work in the space between Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya and Tiger Zinda Hai. He has evolved so much as a person and so many things happened in his life. There's a certain gravitas he brings to his work. He lives his whole life around his work. It's a long extension of who he is. I think that's why he connects so well with people and his audiences.

You have worked with Ali Abbas before and you had worked with Kabir Khan before. Ek Tha Tiger was a massive success and the sequel looks bigger than ever. How was the process working with the two different directors and same character Zoya?
Obviously, Kabir Khan set up the character Zoya and worked from the base in Ek Tha Tiger. Tiger Zinda Hai is a film five years on. Ali Abbas Zafar picks up the story in a very different way about two agents who are now on a mission whereas Ek Tha Tiger was more of a romantic story. This is now more about the mission. The journey they go on his completely different. They (Kabir Khan and Ali Abbas Zafar) are both dear friends of mine and I have a lot of love and fondness for both of them. Kabir, slightly, in a more respectful way as he is slightly older to us. Ali and I are pretty much the same age and he is more of my buddy. He doesn't have a family to go home to. So, he is a part of the friend circle where you just have fun and roam around and do nothing. He is more like a buddy that way. We are appreciative that way.